Gene Doucette, most known for designing many of Elvis Presley's famous costumes, was a self-taught artist who began drawing when he could hold a pencil. Moving to Los Angeles in 1970 with 25 bucks in his pocket, he first worked at Berman's Costumes and then at Pzazz Designs with Bill Bellew, who was designing Elvis's outfits. Because Bill was so busy, Gene designed many of Elvis's most famous costumes from 1972 until Elvis's death, including the Aloha, Peacock, Sundial, Tiger and American Eagle suits.

Gene worked as a free-lance costume designer from the late 1970s through the 1990s, where among many other things he was the costume designer/wardrobe manager for the TV show Punky Brewster, the 1983 Bob Hope Special "NBC 80th Birthday Paris", Persian Gulf Bob Hope Specials, TV series Going Bananas (Hanna Barbera), Siegfried and Roy Las Vegas TV cable special.

Gene was also a master embroiderer and beader. In the late 1980s, Gene started working with B&K Enterprises Costume Company, the premiere company making Elvis tribute artist costumes.